Therapeutic effect of iodised serum milk protein, lycopene and their combination on benign prostatic hyperplasia induced in rats

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common chronic disease in ageing men. Synthetic inhibitors of 5 alpha-reductase commonly used in BPH treatment have limited effectiveness and may cause side effects. Evaluation of iodised serum milk protein and lycopene therapeutic effect in rat BPH model was the aim of the present study. BPH was induced in male Wistar rats by surgical castration and subsequent testosterone administrations (25 mg/kg, 7 injections). Rats with induced BPH received lycopene (5 mg/kg), iodised serum milk protein (200 mu g/kg) or their combination for 1 month daily. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated by the prostate weight, prostatic index and ventral lobe epithelium thickness. In lycopene and iodised serum milk protein-treated rats, prostate weight and prostatic index were significantly reduced compared to control group; and lycopene and iodised serum milk protein used in combination yielded an additive effect. Thus, further investigation of combined supplementation with micronutrients and plant-derived substances in BPH models may help to find new opportunities or its safe and effective treatment.